Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey
Background: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have played key roles in the economic growth and technical innovation of traditional and complementary and alternative medicine (T&CM). Research and development (R&D) are critical activities for industrial progress. This study aimed to c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Integrative Medicine Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422017301063 |
| _version_ | 1811267476128792576 |
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| author | Miyoung Ahn Eun-Ji Park Jong-Min Woo |
| author_facet | Miyoung Ahn Eun-Ji Park Jong-Min Woo |
| author_sort | Miyoung Ahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have played key roles in the economic growth and technical innovation of traditional and complementary and alternative medicine (T&CM). Research and development (R&D) are critical activities for industrial progress. This study aimed to characterize the current status of SME R&D activities and to explore manufacturersâ perceptions of R&D expansion. Methods: Records of the distribution of T&CM SMEs and R&D resources detailed in the 2014 Statistics of Korea T&CM Industries survey, a previously conducted survey on the industrial status of the T&CM field, were reviewed. Data on the perceptions of R&D activities were investigated through a company-based survey covering 285 T&CM-manufacturing SMEs. Results: Greater than 99% of the 13,636 T&CM manufacturers at the time of the study were SMEs employing less than 50 workers. Natural cosmetics manufacturing SMEs (NC SMEs) had the highest R&D expenditures. NC SMEs rely heavily on internal R&D operations, which may contribute to their strong need for R&D collaboration with public research institutions and expanded T&CM-promoted R&D programs. âDigestive system disordersâ are the main target diseases for current herbal and dietary supplement manufacturing SMEs and herbal medicine manufacturing SMEs. These SMEs tend to view their own product-related business as a priority for future R&D investment. Conclusion: This study represents the first attempt to assess SME perceptions of R&D activities. The findings herein can inform the design of sustainable programs that support R&D by reducing the gaps between the perspectives of T&CM product makers and policymakers. Keywords: R&D, SME, South Korea, survey, T&CM |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:03:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-034881fdac924f30b0ac3a5aa1f44877 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-4220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:03:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Integrative Medicine Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-034881fdac924f30b0ac3a5aa1f448772022-12-22T03:16:47ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202017-12-0164409417Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based surveyMiyoung Ahn0Eun-Ji Park1Jong-Min Woo2Policy Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, KoreaKorea Technology & Information Promotion Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Daejeon, KoreaPolicy Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Korea; âCorresponding author. Policy Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseongdae-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34054, South Korea.Background: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have played key roles in the economic growth and technical innovation of traditional and complementary and alternative medicine (T&CM). Research and development (R&D) are critical activities for industrial progress. This study aimed to characterize the current status of SME R&D activities and to explore manufacturersâ perceptions of R&D expansion. Methods: Records of the distribution of T&CM SMEs and R&D resources detailed in the 2014 Statistics of Korea T&CM Industries survey, a previously conducted survey on the industrial status of the T&CM field, were reviewed. Data on the perceptions of R&D activities were investigated through a company-based survey covering 285 T&CM-manufacturing SMEs. Results: Greater than 99% of the 13,636 T&CM manufacturers at the time of the study were SMEs employing less than 50 workers. Natural cosmetics manufacturing SMEs (NC SMEs) had the highest R&D expenditures. NC SMEs rely heavily on internal R&D operations, which may contribute to their strong need for R&D collaboration with public research institutions and expanded T&CM-promoted R&D programs. âDigestive system disordersâ are the main target diseases for current herbal and dietary supplement manufacturing SMEs and herbal medicine manufacturing SMEs. These SMEs tend to view their own product-related business as a priority for future R&D investment. Conclusion: This study represents the first attempt to assess SME perceptions of R&D activities. The findings herein can inform the design of sustainable programs that support R&D by reducing the gaps between the perspectives of T&CM product makers and policymakers. Keywords: R&D, SME, South Korea, survey, T&CMhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422017301063 |
| spellingShingle | Miyoung Ahn Eun-Ji Park Jong-Min Woo Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey Integrative Medicine Research |
| title | Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey |
| title_full | Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey |
| title_fullStr | Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey |
| title_short | Current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises: a 2014 company-based survey |
| title_sort | current status and future prospects of research and development operations in traditional and complementary and alternative medicine manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises a 2014 company based survey |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422017301063 |
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